Simple Tricks to Slim Legs

You might be able to cover up your thick legs through creative attire, but if you're fed up with the painful chafing you experience when your legs rub together, the remedy is exercise to build slimmer legs. The prospect of giving yourself a leg makeover can feel daunting, but by focusing on simple tricks, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and eventually see results.

  1. Aerobic Exercise

    • Losing weight off your legs doesn't have to be complicated. A simple way to reduce your body fat is through aerobic exercise, which takes several forms. The fat loss you experience through any workout will show all over, and, with time, aerobic exercise can give you the legs -- and body -- you desire. Choose from a wide range of aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, swimming and dance fitness classes. Aim to spend at least 300 minutes each week performing these exercises, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

    Healthy Diet

    • Although aerobic exercise puts you on the path to weight loss, complementing your workout regimen by eating a healthy diet can lead to results even sooner. Make simple changes to your diet to decrease your calorie consumption. For example, supplement your meals with fresh fruits or vegetables and lean protein sources, such as fish. Replace unhealthy snacks with protein-rich items such as seeds and nuts. Cut back on your alcohol consumption and increase the amount of water you drink daily.

    Yoga and Pilates

    • Yoga and Pilates can help slim and firm many parts of your body, including your legs. Each exercise has numerous poses that target your upper and lower legs. If Pilates is your area of interest, try seated single leg lifts. In yoga, such poses as chair, bridge and tree can contribute to slim, toned legs. Don't just focus on lower-body poses; taking a Pilates or yoga class works most of your major muscle groups to keep your body in balance.

    Strength Training

    • Strength training is an important part of any workout regimen, and even if you want to build slim legs, not bulky legs, strength training can be effective. The list of leg exercises from which to choose is almost endless. Squats and lunges target your quads, calf raises target your calves and single-leg deadlifts are an effective exercise to target your hamstrings. You can perform each exercise with free weights, but if you enjoy exercising at home, perform them without weights. For example, to perform a squat, stand upright with your arms extended in front of you and bend at the knees to lower your body toward the floor. Stop when your thighs are parallel to the floor and return to the standing position, all while keeping your abs tight and your back straight. Perform three sets of 10 reps of this exercise.